Chapter Two: Story Revealed

"Yelena, are you?" was all Pearl could get out.

"What? No of course not! But maybe Leif could tell you about his personal status with Opal's sister." Take that! I looker up at Leif watching the smile fall from his face, Valek laughing harder than ever, something about this whole situation seemed very amusing to him.

"Why," Pearl said her voice level increasing "Are all of my children…" either anger or amazement stopped her from continuing again, for which I was very grateful.

Esau came over and put a reassuring arm on her shoulder.

"I'm sure they're just teasing each other Pearl, don't worry about it." as always Esau came to the rescue, but that didn't stop him from giving me a look that indicated that I hadn't completely gotten away.

With the discussion settling down, it turned to Valek to answer some questions, which Pearl had more than enough of. They asked about Ixia, and then the dreadful question about how we met. There was no escaping it; it was time to tell my parents about my time in Ixia since id been kidnapped.

"Well, actually it was mostly Yelena's doing that we met," Valek said, squeezing my hand, he knew what came next. "But I'll let her tell it."

All the eyes, except Valeks' stared at me. Suddenly I couldn't breathe. Oh God, here we go.

"Well after Mogkan took me," I saw Leif squirm a little out of the corner of my eye. Just keep going, I told myself. "I was taken to an orphanage one of the generals ran. Mogkan took away my childhood memories so I wouldn't try to come back to you."

Pearls face had already gone white, Leif moved closer, as if to either hear better, or to try and stop me from continuing. Nothing could stop me now; I was going to do this.

And so I did.

I told them everything about my time in Ixia; the years at Brazel's orphanage, until I turned sixteen. Then I stopped for a minute. This was going to be hard; no doubt Pearl wouldn't leave the tree tops for weeks. I took a beep breath and continued. All of Reyad's tortures, how he tried to get me to use magic through cruel tests. How I became his lab rat, obedient just to make it stop. I felt Valek tighten his grip on my hand as I retold the story he had already heard, but still affected him. But he didn't show any expression, mostly for my benefit, he knew how hard this was for me and was ready to give me his strength.

When I got to Reyad's killing, I was afraid they would think I was a monster, but the all had a look on their face like they would have done the same thing. I finished with my year in the dungeon and becoming the food taster, the first time I'd met Valek. I closed my eyes and let a long breath. It was over.

Nobody said anything for a while. This was seeing my parents had been about, not them meeting Valek (though that was a bonus) it was about them hearing my story. Hopefully that was the last time I would have to tell anybody.

"I'll go start dinner, you must be hungry." Pearl got up, but instead of going to the kitchen, she came over, pulled me off the couch and hugged me. So many things were in that hug. She had her daughter back. "You are home." Was all she said, before she turned and headed to the kitchen. Esau followed her hugging me once before he did.

I sat back down next to Valek and sighed, that could have been worse, but I hoped they wouldn't treat me differently. I looked up at Leif, who was still looking at me, with a sad look on his face.

With out him saying anything I said, "I know you didn't know Leif. And its not your fault, one of it is. It's theirs; you would have had the same fate."

"But…"

"Leif I would never forgive myself if that had happened to you."

"But I'm supposed to forgive myself for it happening to you?"

"Yes you are. You were eight, there's nothing you could have done. They would have separated us anyway, and the same thing would have happened."

"We would have fought."

"I know. I did."

"Yeah, you did, you came back, and you saved the other kids. Maybe, just maybe, you are a Zaltana." A small smile touched his face.

"Maybe? Isn't it obvious, and Moon Man confirmed it, so ha!"

"Yeah ok. Let's go eat, I'm hungry." I took Valek's hand and the three of us headed for the kitchen.

Leif put his arm around my shoulder and gave me a quick squeeze. "And its ok, you don't look THAT pregnant." Then he raced into the room before I could hit him. Valek laughed again and we took our seats for dinner.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

During the next couple days I showed Valek around the stronghold introducing him to some of my cousins. I mostly just wanted some alone time with him after the talk with my parents. It felt good to tell them, though I would have gladly not gone through it again. Our wandering led us down the rope ladder and into the trees near by. We lay down under one, as we did the night before I had to leave Ixia, before I met my family. He out the blanket we borrowed over us as I put my head on his chest.

"You were very brave the other day, Love." Valek said putting his arm around me.

"It could have gone worse." I agreed.

"Yes, and you did well. Will you be saying here?"

"What" Why would I? Aren't we going back together?" I sat up a little to see his face. Why was he leaving without me?

"I have to get back to the Commander. I've been gone a while."

"A week. You've been gone a week. That's not that long a time."

"To be away from my duty it is. But if you don't want to stay here, I'm sure Ari and Janco would love to see you again."

"Alright, I'll go with you; Pearl's not going to be happy." I said picturing her face when we told her we ere leaving.

"We'll be back. Liaisons have to travel around a lot."

"Ok. We probably should get some sleep if we're going to be traveling tomorrow."

"Excellent idea, Love!" Valek said and then rolled over, taking the blanket with him.

"Hey give that back!" I tried to grab the blanket but he simply roller over again, wrapping it under him

I pushed him trying to move him off the blanket, but he didn't move. I could hear him laughing at my feeble attempts. Finally I gave up, and walked around to the other side of him and lay down. No sooner had I lay down did her wrap his arm around me, the blanket too.

"See," he said, "Was that so difficult?"

"Watch it, or I'll tell Onyx to ride away, and not let you ride Kiki with me." I said smugly.

"You would leave me behind?" he teased, "That's not nice."

"Neither was taking the blanket."

Oh, that was just to get you next to me."

I just humphed and snuggled closer. Soon after we both fell asleep under the tree.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

the sun shoe through top of the trees, lighting up the forest. I woke up to the sun in my eyes and Valek's arm around me. He was already awake, sitting with his back against the tree. I sat up, so I could rest my head against his shoulder.

"Good morning." He said, kissing the top of my head.

"Morning."

"How'd you sleep?"

"Better once I hand some blanket."

He laughed "You should have been quicker to get it. It's not my fault your slow."

"You didn't have to steal it."

"And what fun would that have been."

I rolled my eyes "You're impossible"

"Yes, that's why you love me."

"Oh, do I?"

"Yes you do."

"Prove it."

So he did.

We kissed for a while, among other things and didn't care (or remember) that we had left the stronghold, or that someone night come looking for us. Which is, of course, what happened. We heard rustling of leaves a little ways off, and, realizing our appearance, threw the blanket over us just as Pearl walked into sight. She stopped frozen when she saw us, only our heads above the blanket.

"I knocked on you door and when you weren't there I got worried and came looking for you." She said, not taking her eyes off the ground. I realized she was worried I'd been taken again.

"Oh… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. We just lost track of time while we were wandering around, and we must have fallen asleep." I didn't say what we'd been doing when she showed up.

"Um, there's breakfast at home if you want."

Noticing how hungry I was I said "great! Give me a minute and we can go together."

Valek and I dressed behind the tree then followed Pearl up the ladder. When we got to the house, Leif had a smile on his face that said he knew exactly where we were. Well, what were we supposed to do? Just because he couldn't right now didn't mean he had to bust us for it.

"Um, Valek and I have to leave today; we're needed in Ixia right now." I said mostly into my plate.

"But you just got here. Cant you stay longer?" Pearl said

"Unfortunately not. We've been gone for a while and I need to check in."

"Oh. Well promise you'll come back soon."

"Definitely." Said Valek. "And thank you for letting us stay here."

"Of course, you are always welcome here." She said with a smile.

That was a very good sign. My parents were ok with Valek, even though he was deadly.

After breakfast Valek and I went into my room. It was nice to have some time off and visit my family. It was just the break I needed, apart from the first night of questions. The rest of the morning was spent packing for out journey to Ixia.

Ha! this chapter was alot of fun to write. And I have to give credit to my friend Felicia; she gave me the idea of having Pearl catch them under the tree. You wouldn't believe how long we laughed about that. I mean, come one it would be hilarious to see. Anyway, I hope you liked it and PLEASE review or I can't update!